Need For Industry

April 28, 1985

Last week, St. Cloud lost a bid to annex its wastewater disposal site into the city limits. Florida law says cities cannot annex land that does not touch their borders. St. Cloud officials wanted the Legislature to make an exception for the site about two miles south of town. Local lawmakers said no.

City officials had hoped not only to annex the disposal site, but property bordering that land. That would have given the city additional land suitable for industrial development. That development -- and the property taxes it would generate -- are sorely needed in St. Cloud.

It was a shot in the dark that failed. However, it should show city leaders how critical it is for them to annex new land. To survive, St. Cloud must have new sources of revenue. That means something in short supply: new industry.